Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1887-09-24
WASHINGTON LETTER.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 10, 1887.
AS intimated in a former letter,
there is no secret here of the absolute
diuorce of the Administrator from
the uncongenial alliance with the
Mugwumps. The democracy never
meant the union to be an honorable
and lasting one, and the only mat.
ter of astonishment is that they
have sojourned together SO long as
they have. The decree of separa-
ton has been issued, and Cleveland
leaves the old lady and the offspring
to search and wander for themselves.
while he rushes over, with all the
household effects, to the out-stretch-
ed arms of pure unadulterated, par
tisan democracy. 1t is the old story
of promise, infamy and desertion.
And perhaps this treatment is really
merited. Certainly it is in perfect
harmony with the history of the de-
mocratic party for the past forty
years and more. They are good to
promise, but bad to redeem. The
older readers of this letter will well
remember the democratic campaign
of IS Polk, Dallas, and the Tariff of
49," That was the battle cry then,
for Pennsylvania was necessary to
success, and hence they put Dallas
on the ticket, Pennsylvania, and
locked arms with protection, and
won the campaign. What was the
RESULT Why, the very first session
OF Congress under the administra-
tion of Polk, repealed the tariff of
'42, and that by the casting vote OF
Dallas himself.
A new idea has just forced itself
to the front which Is making quite a
comMOtion among numerous Depart
ment Clerks. The Civil Service
Commission, DESTROYS of /" turning the
rascals ont, " have racked their brains
for every conceivable pretense, and
at last have hit upon an additional
device. It has the semblance of
fairness and rather In accord with
the spirit of the Civil Service law, if
construed as revolutionary in its &C
ton. They have discovered the mo-
mentous fact that several ofthe Nor
thern and Western States have more
than their quota Of appointments,
while several of the Southern States
have less. and that several are credi-
ted to States who really have no legal
residence therein. The whole thing
is to be investigated, and the sur.
plus cut of, and particularly those
who are wrongly credited. This OF
course means Republicans and is re-
garded as an excellent subterfuge to
make place for administration adhe.
rents.
The State Department is consider
ably incensed at the recent speech
of the Queen in closing the British
Parliament, wherein she claims
among other things, that the joint
commission to settle the fish ques-
ton between this Government and
England, is another distinct and
positive triumph of British diplo-
macy. AS to the truth of this claim,
the people of this country are in bliss
ful ignorance up to date, for the
State Department has resolutely alb
stained from giving the public any
information touching negotiations
going on. This declaration of the
Queen, in so public a manner, ting
les the ear OF Secretary Bayard, and
the prospect of any laurel wreaths
dangling from his massive brow in
the settlement of this vexed question
that has stirred up good deal of
bad blood, seems to be vanishing
away like morning mist. It is not
improbable that the sequel will show
that with less pretense to dignity
and more practical application Of
brain force in our foreign relations,
the rights Of American citizens
would be better scared. You will
remember that last winter when this
question was up IN Congress, the
democracy mounted the war horse
with flying colors, under the leader
ship OF Perry Belmont, Chairman of
the House Committee on foreign re-
latioDe, and passed very severe re-
resolutions. It was huge
buster, and amounted to nothing. |
Let rs hope that the Queen, in her
congratulations, may prove q little |
premature, and that after all we are |
not completely worsted in this i'm
portant contest.